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Prep boys golf preview: Alexander Dawson aiming for No. 1

Mustangs know they have plenty of work ahead in quest for state golf title

By Joshua Lindenstein For the Times-Call

Posted:
08/10/2011 09:00:00 PM MDT

Updated:
08/11/2011 08:51:51 PM MDT

ALEXDAWSONGOLF1.jpg From left to right Cole Nygren, Carson Jones, Cameron Connor Peter Hassan and Adair Warren of the Alexander Dawson School Golf team at the Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.
Photo by Paul Aiken August 9, 2011.
(
PAUL AIKEN
)

The Alexander Dawson boys golf team has all four players back from last year's group that placed third at state.

Senior Cole Nygren has been playing the best golf of his life this summer. Senior Peter Hassan was the Class 3A state champion in 2009. And junior Carson Jones and sophomore Adair Warren both tied for 10th at state last year.

The credentials are the sort that should anoint the Mustangs as the favorites for the 3A team crown this fall, right?

"I think we're about as underdog as they come," Dawson coach Arnold Lewis said this week. "I think we've got a lot of work ahead of ourselves."

OK, so the two teams who beat the Mustangs last fall weren't exactly one-hit wonders. Kent Denver has won five state titles in a row and is always loaded. Last year's runner-up, Eaton, returns three of its top four players.

But make no mistake. A state title is Dawson's ultimate goal, and the Mustangs at least like their chances.

"I think we have a bunch of guys that are really passionate about golf," Hassan said. "I think we have good team chemistry and a lot of talented players, so hopefully we can pull it together."

The Mustangs will get an early look at where they stand on Friday when they have a three-ball match play competition with Kent Denver and Eaton at Broadlands in Broomfield.

Dawson took third last season even with its top two players having rough outings. After leading the team much of the season, Nygren went 12-over-par for the two-day state tourney to tie for 21st. Hassan was a stroke behind in a tie for 23rd as he tried to defend his title.

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While the Mustangs said they put the state meet behind them quickly, all of the squad's top players have been putting in ample hours on the course this summer to improve their games. That includes sophomore Cameron Connor, who was the Mustangs' fifth player last season and could well make the top four for the postseason this year.

In the past month alone, four of the top five Mustangs have posted below-par rounds in tournaments.

"We've got as I see it five guys who could easily be in the top two on our team," said Lewis, who is in his 10th year leading the squad. "They're all working so hard."

Nygren might have been the Mustangs' top player overall a year ago. But he has also made some of the biggest gains over the offseason.

He left the state eight times over the winter for national tournaments. This summer, he won an American Junior Golf Association tournament in Aspen and made the top five in five other high-level junior events.

The key to his progress, he said, has been an improved short game.

"It's pretty exciting," Nygren said. "I've definitely gained a lot of confidence. I feel very good when I step over the ball every time."

As the team's other senior, Hassan, meanwhile, is hoping to get back toward the championship form of his sophomore year.

He admits that wearing the target of defending champ got to him at times last season. He said coach Ed Oldham at The Ranch Country Club -- the same coach Nygren works with in the offseason -- worked with him a lot this summer on his mental approach and trusting his swing.

"I put an expectation on myself (last year) to play really well every tournament," Hassan said. "When I didn't, I got really down on myself."

Hassan said it's been inspiring to the rest of the team to see Nygren's performance this summer. And all the Mustangs head into the season with top-10 potential individually at state, if not title potential.

But while the players are clear about where they'd like to be at the end of the season, Lewis takes a more measured approach.

He knows, after all, that there is work to be done.

"What we're working on right now is trying to improve everyone's play and get the most out of each kid," Lewis said. "I'm trying to keep it pretty mellow, but I think the kids are really fired up for the year."

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